Rewriting Russian Gymnastics

In view of Nelli Kim's recent interview , Lupita and I thought it timely to revisit the performance of some of the WTC President's judges over past competitions ... this article from 27th August 2012 is reposted here, as a reminder. You will find a link to the FIG's newly published book of results at the Olympic Games here .  This year, they have broken down the judge's execution scores so you can see exactly how each judge evaluated the gymnasts' performances.  It makes for interesting reading - if only I had more time to analyse each judge's marking.  A skim reading already highlights multiple inconsistencies in individual judges' marks and makes you wonder why they bother with the jury at all. I have taken the time to look at the reference judges' scores for the top four in the women's all around.  The FIG explains here what their role is, and how they are selected.  I even used my calculator, which is a risky thing in my hands.  M...

There is so much I want to say at present, but it will have to wait a little while as my day job takes priority.  Keep your eyes peeled in the next few days for a guest post by Nico about the state of MAG in Russia.   Courtesy Sports.ru In the meantime, Maria Madyrova sent me a link to this Russian blog where you can find a picture series on some of the differences between the athletically trained gymnasts of the USA, and the classically trained sportswomen of Russia. You can argue that the blogger picked particularly unflattering pictures of the Americans, and flattering ones of the Russians, but I do think there is a valid comparison of approaches here ... that is,between the execution of a skill as a Code requirement, and the performance of a routine that has the aesthetic as its priority.

Lupita has translated this ITAR-TASS interview with Nelli Kim.  It's controversial, to say the least. Ed's note : much of the initial response to this interview - both here and in the wider gymternet -  has focussed on the detail of Kim's words and especially her comments about Viktoria Komova, and smiling.  But I think these have to be taken in context, and not too literally. Don't forget that just a day ago Andrei Rodionenko complained bitterly about the judging in Antwerp, calling Kim's behaviour 'aggressive'. Kim is responding to this here, and to the wider current context of Russian gymnastics.  What she is essentially saying to the Russian coach is 'get your own house in order, produce confident, disciplined, well trained gymnasts - stop complaining, do your job, and I will do mine.'   She goes about saying this in a somewhat long winded way and says some things along the way that seem contradictory, unfair, inappropriate even for th...

Isa Alexandrova has translated this conversation with Svetlana Boginskaya by Elena Vaitsekhovskaya. Svetlana Boginskaya leaps to a beam gold medal at the 1991 World Championships We hadn’t seen each other since the Olympic Games in Atlanta. After the Olympic Games, the three-time Olympic champion and five-time World champion Svetlana Boginskaya finished her gymnastics career. And pretty much disappeared from the public view, by moving to America … EV           Sveta, I tried to find on the internet at least some interviews with you, even any vague ones - and didn’t find any.   SB            I don’t really give interviews often, especially after the OG in Barcelona in 1992 and after I left for  America in 1993. EV            I remember that almost all of the gymnasts from your “Golden” team left to participate in the comme...

Lupita translates this interview with Andrei Rodionenko. Aliya Mustafina calculating Anna Rodionova's beam D value in Sunday's beam final Andrei Rodionenko, standing in the bus that left the arena after Mustafina’s victory on beam, said that the Worlds in Belgium had not been a success.   It’s a good thing when the head coach judges himself uncompromisingly.   I myself don’t think it was a failure. Some of the disappointments - Aliya not winning gold on bars, or Olympic medalist Ablyazin not making any final - have an interesting subtext. There are things that should rather be understood now. It’s better to correct them now, because repenting after Rio will be too late. - Andrei Fyodorovich, as you were leaving the arena, you said laconically that “Nelli Kim has behaved aggressively”.   Out of the inquiries submitted, ours was ignored and the American complaint was accepted. Was Nelli Kim behind that, like three years ago in Rotterdam? -  ...

Alexander Alexandrov speaks to Elena Vaitsekhovskaya in Sport Express . Alexander Alexandrov.  Photo : Alexander Vilf for Sport Express The World Championships came to an end last Sunday in Antwerp. We had agreed to meet with the former head coach of the national team and personal coach to Olympic champion Aliya Mustafina at the beginning of the summer, when Alexander Alexandrov accepted the proposal to coach the Brazilian team. Yelena VAITSEKHOVSKAYA Antwerp, 08.10.2013 –  I know that in Brazil they promised you pots of gold, but later it became clear that there was not even a gym to work in there. Do you regret having signed the contract? –  What can I regret now? Nobody thought that the new gym complex just built in Rio was going to be destroyed. The Brazilians tried to convince me to be their head coach, again and again. In January they assured me that a new gym would be finished in the spring. Until now, it has not been built, and this is why...